(KMOV) – St. Louis Police say they have arrested an alleged online predator and believe it could have been much worse if detectives hadn’t stopped him.

Undercover detectives arrested Hammad Ahmed, 26, who they say attempted to meet an underage girl for sex on October 24, 2012.

The incident began with a seemingly innocent conversation in a chat room which after nearly two hours took a different tone.

The language in the chat became more direct, “Will bring some food for u when we meet. What u like to eat,” Ahmed said according to online transcripts of the conversation. “My father is in home if u, we will go in a hotel. Not just for sex, just to stay together maybe u want close to me.”

Court documents report Ahmed of Woodson Terrace thought he was chatting with a 14-year-old girl. St. Louis County Police said he arranged to meet her near a Halloween display at a Walgreen's Store on South Brentwood.

Police arrested him soon after he arrived for the meeting.

Detective Kendra Lee House of Maryland Heights investigates these kinds of cyber-sex crimes and notes parents need to monitor their kids online conversation.

“The beginning is the most innocuous part and will seem like something that anybody in conversation would have. But it could be hours, it could be days, or years later. Sometimes these people will groom children for years until they get what they want,” House said